Kane equalises as England survive scare vs DR Congo
Harry Kane's 87th-minute header cancelled out DR Congo's early lead and kept England's World Cup 2026 hopes alive in the Round of 32.
Harry Kane's 87th-minute header cancelled out DR Congo's early lead and kept England's World Cup 2026 hopes alive in the Round of 32.
Harry Kane powered England level against DR Congo in the World Cup 2026 Round of 32 with a towering header from Anthony Gordon's cross in Atlanta. The match started at 19:00 ET on a humid Tuesday evening, and DR Congo struck first through Chancel Mbemba in the 12th minute after a defensive error allowed him to pounce on a loose ball inside the box. England struggled to break down a disciplined Congolese defence, managing just three shots on target before the hour mark.
The Three Lions’ disjointed build-up play saw them recycle possession without creating clear chances, a pattern that mirrored their struggles in the Euro 2024 group stage. The turning point came in the 87th minute when Anthony Gordon swung in a cross from the left flank. Kane, lurking at the far post, rose highest to power a header past Lionel Mpasi and restore parity.
The goal marked Kane’s 63rd international strike and his fourth in World Cup 2026 qualifiers. It also extended England’s unbeaten run in knockout football under Gareth Southgate to six matches, though this one required a lifeline rather than dominance. England manager Gareth Southgate admitted his side were second best for much of the game.
'We didn’t play well enough to win, but credit to the players for showing character,' Southgate told reporters. ' The admission underscored the gulf between England’s potential and their execution, a recurring theme in Southgate’s tenure. England now advance to the Round of 16 where they will face either Senegal or Algeria, depending on results in the other Group H fixtures.
The draw leaves them in a favorable position, but the performance suggests they’ll need to tighten their defensive structure and refine their attacking efficiency to progress further. England’s defensive frailties were exposed repeatedly by DR Congo’s physicality and direct approach. The visitors targeted England’s right flank, where Reece James struggled to contain pacey winger Arthur Masuaku.
DR Congo’s midfield pressed aggressively, forcing England into 19 turnovers in their own half—nearly double their usual rate. Yet, despite the chaos, England’s backline survived through sheer resilience, a trait that has defined their tournament runs under Southgate. The late equaliser also highlighted England’s reliance on set-piece situations.
Kane’s goal came from a Gordon cross, not a structured move, and it underscored the lack of creativity in open play. With just two open-play goals in their last five matches, England’s attack is becoming increasingly predictable, a vulnerability that opponents will exploit if they progress deeper into the tournament. England’s midfield struggled to transition from defence to attack, often caught in no-man’s-land as DR Congo’s counter-pressing disrupted their rhythm.
Kalvin Phillips and Kobbie Mainoo, tasked with shielding the backline, were overrun in midfield duels, allowing DR Congo to launch quick breaks. The numbers tell the story: England completed just 68% of their passes in the opening 45 minutes, their lowest first-half pass completion rate in a competitive match under Southgate since the 2022 World Cup. The Congolese side’s intensity exposed England’s lack of midfield steel.
DR Congo’s midfield trio of Charles Pickel, Samuel Moshie, and Gaël Kakuta dominated the midfield battle, winning 58% of aerial duels and 54% of ground duels in the first half. Their ability to win second balls and transition quickly left England’s defence scrambling, a pattern that nearly cost them dearly before Kane’s intervention. What's next: England face a stern test in the Round of 16, regardless of whether they meet Senegal or Algeria.
Both sides boast defensive solidity and counter-attacking threat, meaning Southgate’s team must address their defensive vulnerabilities and midfield creativity if they aim to go further than the quarter-finals. Read at BBC Football
Kane’s late equaliser preserved England’s World Cup 2026 ambitions and exposed their defensive frailties in high-pressure knockout football. The draw masks deeper issues—possession dominance without cutting-edge finishing, and a porous backline exposed by DR Congo’s physicality. Yet the mental resilience shown in salvaging a point underlines why Southgate’s side remain dark horses in North America. The performance also raises questions about England’s ability to adapt tactically against teams that refuse to play into their hands, a challenge that will only intensify in the knockout stages. England’s midfield struggles against DR Congo reveal a structural flaw: they lack the defensive midfield presence to shield transitions, a liability that could be fatal against teams with genuine counter-attacking potency.
BBC Footballbbc.co.uk1 Jul, 17:54en-gb
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